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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
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Programme to promote tropical forests A programme to promote tropical forests in the island was launched recently. Titled Small Grants Programme to Promote Tropical Forests, it was launched by the United Nations Development Programme in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the European Commission. Out of 142 project proposal submissions, six have been chosen for the programme, based on criteria including the degree of community participation and the importance of core-forest areas ranked under the National Conservation Review. Five non-governmental organisations received micro capital grants connected with the programme, at the launch. The projects earmarked for initial funding are the Turtle Conservation Project of Kosgoda, Environment Protection Foundation of Kamburupitiya, the Environment and Economic Consultancy Service, People's Development Foundation of Ratnapura and Conservation Area Management Committee/Lower Uva Development Centre, Bibile. ---- Children in institutions, a cause for concern
The study has revealed that over 50 per cent of the children in non-state institutions like orphanages and children's homes were there due to poverty. The study, which is yet to be completed, shows that only 6.5 per cent of these children were orphans without both parents; 26.5 per cent of the children had only one living parent while 54 per cent of the children had both parents living. According to Save the Children, the findings of the research is raising concern among the authorities. The Government's policy is to keep institutionalisation of children in difficult circumstances as the last option. The organisation suggests that if proper support was given to families and communities to take care of children, there will be a significant reduction in the large number of children in institutions in Sri Lanka.Another recommendation is the urgent need to create awareness among parents and guardians on institutionalisation, so that adults are well informed before they make a decision to institutionalise a child. ---- Schoolgirl's book, a major hit Have you heard of Dragon Tamers? This is the title of a book written by a 13-year-old Scottish schoolgirl, Emma Marre Urquhart, which is selling like hot cakes in the UK. Emma has become so successful with the book, her first novel, that she sold 50,000 copies within six weeks of the launch. The publishing sensation has also won a second print run for the book. Her publishers have also received calls from collectors asking to buy upto 10 signed copies at once. They have also discovered that despite having a recommended retail price of 9.95 sterling pounds, a copy of Dragon Tamers has featured on the Internet for 35 pounds. The story is about a teenager who is dragged into a virtual reality game involving a dragon. If she dies in the game, she dies in the real world. It took Emma a year to write Dragon Tamers. She is now working on another book involving the same characters. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
A research project on children in institutional care titled 'The rights
and protection of children in Sri Lanka' has been launched by Save the
Children, a non-governmental organisation in Sri Lanka. 
